Author's Note: Some background on Mila Yusimoko. Flying lessons, and Jin tries to stand up to Hook Shot.
Disclaimer: I don't own MHA or its characters. Original characters are mine but that's it. Story is rated for sensitive subject matter and content both mentioned and written.
Chapter 57 - Blood is Thicker
Soji whistled to himself as he waited on the elevators in the lobby of his office building. He had woken up late, had a late breakfast with Azumi and headed to work. No regrets on gow late he was up last night, a smile on his face, but Soji had a meeting with the Private Investigator that was looking into Mila's mother's case. They apparently had information for him and wanted to meet today, before taking Azumi's unsolved case up as well. This guy must be good if he was able to find information so quickly on Mila's mother. Even Keigo hadn't been able to get anything when he asked Sasha to look for it at the Commission.
Opening the office door, Soji saw Rubi behind her desk, working on client scheduling while Akina was speaking to a tall plain clothed looking man in the waiting room with an armful of paperwork. A nod to his brother had Akina motioning between them both. "Soji, this is Orin Duchamp. The Private Investigator that we hired. Orin, this is my brother Soji." Orin offered a hand and Soji readily shook hands. "It's nice to meet you. I noticed you have a bunch of papers, do you want to go to my office?" Soji offered as he motioned down the hall. The investigator nodded and followed Soji to his private office, waiting as the lawyer turned on the lights and shut the door.
Orin looked right at the photograph of Mila and set the paperwork down. "Wow. She looks more like you than I thought." Soji smiled a bit and motioned for the PI to sit. "Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee? Tea?" Shaking his head no, the investigator handed the top file to Soji. "No. Thank you. If you don't mind I'd like to get right to it." Soji took the folder and opened it, a picture of a man with similar facial markings as Mila and the same blue eyes stared back at him. "That's Aman Yusimoko, a sales clerk with a heteromorphic quirk that gave him traits of a bluebird. He marries Aui Yusimoko, also known as Soothe and died three years ago in an automobile accident. Killed instantly. That file has everything from his work information to his autopsy report and death certificate."
Soji frowned as he skimmed through the folder. "Poor guy didn't have a lot of time, did he?" Orin shook his head no and opened another file. "This is information on Soothe. Her history and education, time as a sidekick, even her retirement. It also has the case file for her death. A lot of this was classified so this is copies of copies of pictures. The information is a bit blurred but you can still read it. Her daughter is barely mentioned except that she went into foster care." The investigator opened the folder and removed a page. "According to official sources this is an open unsolved case which is why it took me awhile to find the other parts to this and there was a deathbed confession on this."
He turned the page over to show Soji and saw the lawyer's eyes widen. "If there was a confession then why isn't it closed?" Orin shrugged. "I suppose deathbed confessions from mental patients aren't sufficient to close a case. This guy had multiple forms of cancer and attacked Soothe in her home after she had cured one of them, but was unable to cure them all. At the time she was healing people in her living room for money to support herself and her daughter. The kid would be hidden in another room and she would do her thing in the living room." Soji mumbled as he looked at the confession and crime scene photos. "The quiet game…"
They were quiet as Soji read through what he had and then sighed, closing up the folders. "This helps a lot. It's good to know what happened even if the police won't close the case. Having these answers for the inevitable questions is a huge help. Luckily, Mila has only manifested her father's quirk so far." Orin raised an eyebrow and pointed at Soji. "So far. Quirks are hereditary and she could still get it. If that happens the Heroes Public Safety Commission will offer to keep her safe and her information hidden." Soji scoffed and shook his head. "I doubt they'll get to after all the hoops they made for themselves with my son. I don't think she'll manifest a healing ine so we won't need to worry about that. So if this case is done, are you good to start the next one? It's much older and colder. In fact one of the people who was around from that time is in jail."
Orin grinned and sat back in the comfortable chair. "Hey, your firm's checks are still good and I have a soft spot for kids. Your results and family are as confidential as my other clients. As for more work, I'll take as many cases as you want to throw at me." Soji nodded and pulled out some of the information he had on Azumi's case. "This is an unsolved assault and rape on Azumi Tayaka. I already told her you were going to look into it. She's willing to answer anything she can. We wanted Mila's stuff handed first." Orin nodded and pulled out a notebook.
"Give me everything you've got on it."
/
Azumi sat on a bench behind her apartment building and smiled to herself. She was watching Keigo and Mila in the small open grassy area where the building kids normally played. She had the day off from work, and Hawks didn't need to go on patrol until that evening. So he stood in front of Mila with his wings spread out majestically behind him as she mimicked what he was doing. Up until now, he had shown her what her feathers were for and how to maneuver them to gain lift and steer. He had taken her flying a few times where he held her tight and flew around while she giggled and flapped her wings.
Now they were going to work on gliding from high up. Sion stood on her back balcony on the fourth floor, pipe in hand and smoking as she watched them all from above. Azumi waved to the older woman before standing up and cupping her hands around her mouth. "You can do it, Mila!" The five year old grinned at her mommy and looked at her brother with determined blue eyes. She was wearing a green combination one piece of shirts and a shirt sleeve shirt with purple sandals. Hawks was wearing his compression suit with cargo pants and boots. But his jacket was next to Azumi on the bench. His headphones and glasses were with his jacket, showing off the three piercing in each ear along the lobe.
"Alright, little bird. You ready?" Mila bidded eagerly. Her back straight and her arms out to be picked up. "Yea!" He grinned and scooped her up, hands holding her around the waist as he flapped his wings and took them both into the air. He stayed near the second floor balconies, but circled until he had a good glide going. "Wings out! Keep them spread out and let the air fill them. And aim for mommy!" Mila flapped her wings a few times as if making sure she could before nodding and putting her hands out in front of her. He looked at her carefully as his strong ruby wings covered the little girl in shade as she waited for him to let go.
Hawks glanced down at his mother, a few feathers floating around them both to make sure he could catch her if she dropped. He swallowed back a chirp as he realized he was nervous, and then he let go. Mila's eyes were on Azumi as her wings stayed straight and spread out. The wind caught them and she staggered for a moment to keep herself straight before giggling. Her feet kicked a bit, and Azumi held her arms up to catch her daughter as the little girl floated down into her arms. A series of chirps coming from her as she nuzzled her mommy excitedly. Sion applauded from her balcony causing the little girl to turn and see how high up Hawks had been when he let her go. "You did it!" Azumi nuzzled her nose, smiling as Mila chirped proudly. Hawks gave her two thumbs up as he flapped his wings to drop himself in front of his family.
"Good job, Mila! You were great! Just like a natural." Mila turned in Azumi's arms to hold her hands out to him. "Again, Nii chan. Again!" Hawks laughed and plucked her from Azumi's arms, asking his mother with a silent look and receiving a nod before he flapped his wings to take them both into the air again. Twice more Hawks took Mila into the air and let her go. She safely glided down into Azumi's arms to happy kisses on the nose and chirps from Hawks. Mila was happily clinging to Azumi when Hawks spoke up. "Do you want to try landing on your own, Mila? Like I do?" The five year old thought about that and nodded. "Yea! I want to land like Nii chan does."
Azumi gently handed her back to Keigo and motioned to the grassy area. "Try to keep it on the grass just in case." Nodding, Hawks flapped his wings to take Mila up near the second floor balconies again. "Remember, feet down when you want to land. And you might pitch forward so try to flap your wings when you put your feet down. Got it?" She nodded quickly and already had her wings and arms out giggling. "Ready!" He let go. Making sure to follow her down just in case. Azumi was also walking along where Mila was gliding as if ready to catch her if she suddenly dropped from the sky. Mila looked like she was focused on landing, her feet dangling down as she began to wobble with her wings out.
Mila tried to stabilize herself on instinct, realizing she was coming down at an angle. She flapped her wings too quickly and ended up dropping face first into the grass. Her feet tumbled forward and she flipped over in a roll, landing on her side with a loud whistle that ended abruptly. Hawks landed as fast as he could, Azumi already kneeling next to her as she helped Mila sit up. "Are you ok sweetie?" Mila blinked and chirped as she looked at Hawks. Her bottom lip was bleeding and she had scrapes on her knees from the tumble, but she wasn't even crying as she smiled brightly. "I did it!"
Hawks chuckled at her attitude as Azumi picked her up and set her daughter on her hip. "Does it hurt sweetie?" Mila shook her head no, trying to lick her lip and see her scraped knees. "I landed mommy!" Azumi shook her head smiling as she started for the rear door to head inside. "I can see that. You landed right on your face and knees. Let's go get you cleaned up." Mila tried to move her wings to brush her knees and stopped when Hawks put a hand on her head. "Not out here, Mila. Wait until we get inside. It's a secret, remember?" The five year old sulked, but tried to suck on her bleeding lip the entire elevator ride up to their floor. Once they were inside their own home, Mila squirmed out of Azumi's hold and ran to the bathroom.
Azumi followed to help clean her up as Hawks opened the balcony door and collected his jacket and equipment from his feathers that got left outside. He knew once Mila finished healing herself, she would be ready for a nap since it always drained some of her energy when she used her wings like that. Add to that she had been practising flying and gliding and it was no surprise to see Azumi carry a tired Mila into her bedroom to put her down for a nap. He listened as Azumi sang a soft lullaby to her and then left the door open a crack as she walked into the living room.
"You alright, Keigo?" Azumi hugged him from behind. Keigo chirped in response and blushed a bit as he nodded. "Yeah. Guess I need to work on her landing better." Azumi grinned at him as she helped get his jacket on. "I don't know, she seemed very pleased with her first landing. Scraped knees, busted lip and all." Hawks winced and adjusted his glass. "She's going to be ok, right?" His mother nodded and kissed him on the cheek before running her hands through his hair, causing him to chirp again before he leaned into her hand. "Yes. She already healed it and then went right to sleep afterwards." He nodded a little but didn't move to step away from her oreening his hair. "That always feels so good." Azumi grinned playfully. "I'm sorry my hands don't heat up like Dabi's."
Hawks hummed, and then stuttered as his wings puffed up. His face turned red as he blushed and tried to bring his wings up. "Mom!" Azumi laughed and gave his head one more pat before she started for the kitchen. "I think I'll go make a cup of tea while Mila is sleeping." He gaped at her as she disappeared into the kitchen and his face remained red. He grumbled about taking a nap as he pulled his phone out to send a text message. Keigo ignored his mother's laughter as he disappeared into his room. If he happened to send a certain black haired flame user a message, that was his own business.
/
Jin stood at attention in front of Hook Shot's desk. He was in full costume with all of his equipment on, voice synthesizer on and running as he waited. This morning he had thanked Ozone for the sample, and busted his butt trying to keep up with everyone else in PT while they did push ups, sit ups, running in place and more. When they were done, he had been on his way to the showers when Hook Shot ordered him in full gear to his office. Jin showered and changed faster then ever before and was now waiting for his boss to show up.
By the time Hook Shot stepped into the office and shut the door, Echo knew all the assignments for the day had been given. So he was going to be stuck in the office, or working privately with Hook Shot. He remained quiet as the hero sat at his desk, folded his hands together and looked at Echo as if expecting something. "Well?" Blinking, Echo looked around a moment before tilting his head at Hook. "Sir?" Hook Shot sighed and rolled his hands impatiently. "Ozone told me you started taking EndurX. How was it? How much did you take? What did you do?"
This caught Echo by surprise. He hadn't expected Ozone to tell Hook Shot right away, let alone for Hook Shot to be so interested in how Echo reacted to it. "Uh. I didn't take it, sir. I thought about it, but when I spoke to a family member, I decided to grow stronger and train my quirk on my own." There was silence before Hook Shot stood up and began walking around the desk towards Echo. "What did you do with the sample you were given?" Remaining at attention, Echo kept his gaze to the now empty chair behind the desk. "After getting advice on if I should take it, I gave it to my Uncle, Soji Nakamura. Sir."
Hook Shot moved quickly to grab Echo and shoved him onto the desktop. One hand on the back of his neck and the other pinned his mid back to the table so Echo couldn't twist out of the hold. "That sample was for you! I thought you wanted to get stronger! Learn more! Become a sidekick that any hero would be proud to work with! You gave away a support item to a lawyer that has been targeting heroes and causing trouble for their agencies!?" Echo tried to squirm out of the hero's hold, moving his hips and arms as Hook kept him pinned, tightening the grip on his neck as he thrashed.
"He isn't going to come after your agency! He probably threw it away after I left! Uncle Soji wouldn't do anything to cause me trouble! I swear!" Hook glared down at him and saw the teenager was trying not to panic but also trying to get out of the grasp. "You are such a disappointment to me! You came here to get stronger and you throw our aid and supplements back in our face! Do you even want to be a sidekick!?" Hook Shot practically yelled into his ear. "Because I can make sure you never sidekick for anyone! You want that!?" Echo shook his head quickly, hand in fists. "No sir!" Hook let go and backed up from the desk, waiting for Echo to stand before grabbing him roughly by the arm. The office door was thrown open and Hook Shot dragged Echo to the Gym room. The winged bat quirked teenager hurried to keep up, eyes downcast with embarrassment as the pro let go once they were inside.
"You want to grow and get better on your own than you do double the PT of everyone else before you get an assignment for the day!" The taller man loomed over Echo as he tried to stand straight and at attention. "And if you fall behind in any way, I'll make sure you never sidekick for anyone under the 1000 rank. Ever." Echo nodded and stood at attention, his arm and neck throbbing in pain. He needed to do this until Keigo got his agency. He needed the experience
and recommendations. Echo bit his lip before yelling in reply, beginning to do push ups.
"Yes sir!"
